Navajo
Rugs -
A Navajo legend credits a deity named Spider Woman with teaching
them weaving. The first loom was said to be of sky and earth
cords with tools of sunlight, lightning, white shell, and crystal.
In reality, Pueblo Indians taught the Navajos how to weave.

The Pueblo people
of Northern New Mexico were cultivating cotton around 1300 AD,
which they used for weaving. They practiced finger weaving,
and had also learned the use of the backstrap loom from Mexican
Indian tribes.

Weaving was a
man's activity in most pueblos. They wove in the kiva, or ceremonial
room, a cramped space that inspired the invention of the upright
loom. The arrival of the Spaniards and their Churro sheep in
the 16th century led to a change from cotton to wool as weaving
material for the Pueblo Indians as well as the Navajos, who
learned the technique from their neighbors in the late 1600s.
The Spanish also introduced indigo (blue) dye and simple stripe
patterning.

If your Navajo
Rug needs help, go to this page for care, cleaning and repair.

Toadlena
Trading Postoperates in the same way trading
posts have since the 1870sdirectly with the weaver and
her family. You are offered the unique opportunity to acquire
a textile of timeless beauty, acknowledged excellence and lasting
value.

The Navajo weaver
is following the Path of Beauty with a skill passed
down from Spider Woman. We invite you to visit the Toadlena
Trading Post in New Mexico or follow the progress of the weavers
on our web site.

Weaving
in Beauty - is dedicated to expanding the appreciation
and
knowledge of the textiles of the Navajo people of
what is now the southwestern United States. As a business,
we offer cleaning, repair and appraisal of Navajo
textiles and we coordinate classes in Navajo techniques
to help others learn to weave. As part of the community
of Navajo weaving, we provide a forum for discussion
of the people, techniques and events encompassing
this evolving art form.

Located
in the beautiful Red Rock Country of Sedona, Arizona,
Garland's Navajo Rugs is the home of the finest selection
of authentic Indian Arts and Crafts, including hand
carved Hopi Kachina Dolls, Navajo Sandpaintings, Pueblo
Pottery, hand woven Baskets, and the finest selection
of Navajo Rugs in the world. Woven by the most sought-after
Navajo weavers, our fine collection of Navajo rugs
includes an extensive selection of hard-to-find large
floor rugs and colorful blankets from the past.